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J. P. TIRRELL.

Needle Machine.

Patented April 2. 1867 Quite grates figment titer.

J. P. TIRRELL, OF N ORTH BRIDGEWATEE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND J. O. NASH, J. E. NASH, AND IRA MERRITT.

Letters Patent 1V0. (33,442, domed April 2, 1867.

IMPRGVED MAUHINE FOR FORMING THE BABES OF GBOGHETING AND KNITTING NEEDLES.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, J. P. TIRRELL, ofhlorth Bridgewater, of Plymouth county, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Machine for Cutting Crochet Needles and other.similarly-shaped instruments; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification. I

My invention has for its object to produce an organized machine to perform the entire operation of cutting the grooved and barbed portion of crochet needles and other similarly-shaped instruments. Previous to my invention it has been customary in the manufacture of barbed needles (such, for instance, as used in croeheting and in knitting machinery) to take the needles or needle blanks, after being pointed, and cut out the grooves on either side, and cut away the stock, so as to form the hook or barb by hand. I have conceived and put into operation an organized mechanism, which performs this entire operation on the needle blank mechanically with greater rapidity, and at the same time with greater precision and in a more desirable manner, than has been or can be done by hand tools and hand manipulation.

My invention consists in an organized mechanism, in which the needle blank is held upon a compound carriage, which carries it along longitudinally a certain distance, then rotates it (in a horizontal plane) and then traverses onward again, while a rotatory cutter performs the cutting operations, all as hereinafter fully described. v

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, Iwill proceed to describe the construction and operation of one of my machines, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation.

Figure 2, a front view.

' Figure 3, a partial top view; and

Figure 4, a diagram of the needle as cut by the machine illustrated in-the preceding figures.

At fig. 2 I have represented the frame or stand in which the cutter-shaft is mounted, as if partially broken away, so as to illustrate more clearly the device for adjusting said sha t; and at fig. 3 I have illustrated the motions or variable positions of the needletable in red lines.

In the several figures the same part is indicated by the same letter of reference.

G B is the base or bed of the machine, upon which are arranged two movable beds or carriages, E and A; one of them, E, is a traversing carriage, and the other, A, has simply a motion for adjustment, and remains stationary during thepperation of the machine. This latter is adjusted in its seat by means of a screwshaft, f, working in its rear portion, and against a bar or stand, g, (see fig. 1,) and isprovided with this means of adjustment for the purpose of changing the position of the cutter d e, the shaft a of which is mounted in suitablebearing-bcxes on the arms A A of said carriage A. The said shaft a is provided at its upper end with a suitable driving-pulley, c, by which a rotatory motion is imparted from any suitable motive power; and it is lso provided with'a means of longitudinal adjustment, which I will describe as follows: The shaft a is turned down at a point between its two bearings, and around this reduced portion is arranged an embracing box, b, in such manner that any movement of said box, in the direction of the length of the shaft, will cause a corresponding movement of the shaft itself, the latter being free to move longitudinally in its hearings or boxes. Through this box Z) passes also a screw-rod, 9, (sec fig. 2,) which takes bearings at either end against the adjacent sides of the two boxes of stands A A, and around one end of which-is a small spring, 1'. Now, it will be seen that by turningthcscrew-shaft or rod (1 the box 5 will be moved in the direction of the length of shaft 22, and since said shaft is locked longitudinally to said box, said shaft c, it will be soon, will be adjusted or moved longitudinally, just in proportion to the extent the screw-rod q is turned. Thus, by the adjustment (just described) of the shaft a in its boxes, and the adjustment of the carriage A, (as before explained,) it will be seen the position of the milling tool or cutter cl 0 maybe varied to adapt it precisely to the worl: on the table to be operated upon. The carriage E has a reciprocatcry motion, and is carried back and forth by means of a-scrcw-shaft,-u, working in said carriage, and having a fixed bearing in a stand, 1, fast on the base G, (see figs. 2 and Said screw shaft 20 is represented as having a crank-handle ar, by means at which the operator of the machine turns it to effect the motions of the carriage E. On this carriage is arranged a swinging or vibratory table D, (which, in

connection with said carriage, may be said to constitute a eompound'carriage, as alluded to in describing the nature of my invention,) which is free to swing or vibrate in a horizontal plane, around a screw-stud or pivot, ll, (see fig. 1,) and on which is arranged an adjustable work stock or needle holder, in which the needle blank is clamped while undergoing the cutting operation. This work stock or clamp is composed of a bed-piece, k, (which may be adjusted on table D by means of set-screws and a clamping-plate, m, which is pivoted at p, and forced and held down, at the will of the operator, by means of a sliding griping-bar, l, which is arranged to slide over and hold down the free end of the bar 111, and which is provided with a suitable handle to operate it with. By means of this clamping stock, the needle blank is securely held in position, as seen at figs. 1 and 3, while the cutting operations are performed on it. y is a vibrating spring gauge, which is free to turn on its pivot, and held up toward the side of carriage E by means of its spring .2, (see figs. 3 and 2.) This gauge pawl, y, operates to hold the pin d, which protrudes from the end of swinging table D, and regulates the motions of the latter, as will be presently described.

Having so far explained the construction and arrangement-of the several parts, the following general description of the operation of the whole machine will snfiice to give a full and correct understanding of my invention: The needle blank being clamped in position, (in the manner before explained,) as seen at fig. 3, the table E is driven along in the direction indicated by the arrow, which causes the needle blank to come in contact with the mill or cutter d e, the latter e'ommencing to cut nearest the point of the blank H, and cutting the groove along the side of the blank. By the time the pin d has reached the end of the vertically projecting lip of gauge-plate y, the groove will have been out sufficiently far along on the side of the needle, and the pin d then being released from the lip or flanch of plate y, the operator takes hoid of the end of swinging table D, and vibrating it, in the direction indicated by the red lines at fig. 3, causes the needle blank to swing around beneath the constantly-rotating cutter d e, and receive the cut to form the barb, and when the table 1) has been moved around a half circle, the reciprocatorymotion of table E is then continued, in the direction of the arrow, and the groove on the other side of the needle finished out to the point, and so on the operation of the machine is continued. The mill or tool d a must of course be made of the proper shape and size to cut the grooves of the proper shape, and all. the needles will require will be perhaps a little friction to present them in a perfectly finished condition. I have explained the table 1) as being swung around by hand, as this is the simple method employed in the machinery which I have made and successfully worked, but it will be understood that the table I) may be made to perform all its motions by automatic mechanism, if it be deemed expedient to so complicate the machine.

I do not desire to be limited to any of the precise devices or arrangement of mechanism in carrying out my invention, but having explained the construction and operation of my machine for cutting crochet needles and other similar instruments, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of devices, or their equivalents, substantially as described. by means of which the needle blank is held and carried and acted upon by the milling tool, allas set forth. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day of June, 1866.

' J. P. TIRRELL. [SEAL] Witnesses:

FRED. HANSON, Gso. W. BRYANT. 

